Southern Manitoba was hit with high winds and blowing snow that was crippling everything from mail delivery to highway travel and airline flights.

Wind gusts of up to 90 km/h are kicking up piles of snow already blanketing the province, creating whiteout conditions and delaying flights out of Winnipeg.

Manitoba RCMP say there were more than 30 collisions by mid-morning and Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a blizzard and cold warning.

Major highways, including the Trans-Canada, were closed, although most border crossings to the United States remained open.

The Winnipeg zoo -- home to a number of hardy polar bears used to arctic temperatures -- even closed its doors due to the weather.

Canada Post said some customers may not receive mail today because the snow made delivery difficult.

Manitoba road and highway closures:
**All highways are now open.**

School closures and bus schedule changes for Manitoba school divisions on Thursday:
Garden Valley School Division – No classes, no buses running

Prairie Spirit School Division -- All schools closed. No buses.

St James Assiniboia School Division - All schools open except Phoenix Elementary School

Turtle Mountain School Division -- All schools closed. No buses

Lakeshore School Division – All schools closed. No buses. Staff  stay at home.

Pine Creek School Division - All schools closed. No buses

Interlake School Division - All schools closed. No buses

Lord Selkirk School Division – All schools closed. No buses. Staff stay home.

Brandon School Division - Buses will not be operating outside the City of Brandon.

Buses will be running within Brandon.

Alexander, O’Kelly and Spring Valley Schools are closed.

Prairie Rose School Division – All schools closed. No buses. Staff should stay home.

Red River Valley School Division – All schools closed.

Interlake School Division – All schools closed.

Fort la Bosse – All schools closed.

Seine River School Division – All schools closed.

Hanover School Division – All schools are closed to students and staff.

Border Land School Division – All schools closed.

Alexander School Division - All schools closed.

O’Kelly School Division - All schools closed.

Spring Valley School Division - All schools closed.

- With files from The Canadian Press